The document discusses how digital technologies and mobile devices have negatively impacted people's attention spans and abilities to focus. It notes that people now check their phones every 6.5 minutes on average and spend over 3 hours per day on their devices. This constant connectivity has become an addiction that is depleting people's time, attention, and mental resources. Research shows that heavy mobile and internet use is associated with mental exhaustion, difficulty focusing, and an average attention span falling from 12 seconds to only 8 seconds. The document suggests people should carve out distraction-free time, turn off notifications, and engage in real-life activities to avoid overuse of digital technologies.

1. Digitally
Distracted Photo: Freepik

2. With mobile gadget
use at an all-time
high in the 21st
century, our lives
have slowly become
more and more
digital at home, in
the workplace, and
at school. (2)
Photo: Onlyyouqj via Freepik

3. In the “digital age” that
we are currently
experiencing, the ability
to stay focused seems
like a superpower. (2)
Photo: kues1 via Freepik

4. We check our mobile devices every 6.5 minutes. (5)
Photo: Freepik

5. We spend 3 hours
and 40 minutes on
our mobile devices
daily. With a big
chunk of this time
spent uselessly
wondering through
social media feeds.(5)
Photo: Jannoon028 via Freepik

6. This addiction that we have developed
to emails, the internet, and social media
is robbing us of valuable time, attention,
and even our health.(1)
Photo: Jannoon028 via Freepik

7. We have failed to
realize that
although mobile
connectivity can be
beneficial for its
convenience, it has
become a stress
inducing activity.(1)
Photo: Jcomp via Freepik

8. Research has revealed
that mobile users are
emotionally attached to
their devices, and that
this attachment has
gone far beyond simple
communication and is
now an essential part of
life.(6)
Photo: Freepik

9. Yet we continue to say yes. Answering every
tweet, email, ringtone, and text message.(1)
Photo: Creativeart via Freepik

10. Unconsciously saying no to
what's in front of us in real life.
(1)
Photo: Javi_Indy via Freepik

11. And if we never
or rarely shut it
down, it can lead
to long term
stress and its
potential health
risks.(1)
Photo: Jannoon028 via Freepik

12. This addiction is largely due
to the internet bringing about
an eye bite culture. (8)
Photo: Onlyyouqj via Freepik

13. With an
information
overload, our
brains form
shortcuts to
deal with it
all- scanning,
searching for
key words,
scrolling up
and down
quickly. (8) Photo: Dashu83 via Freepik

14. We are developing
digital brains with
new circuits for
skimming through
the mass of online
information. (8)
Photo: Freepik

15. It’s no
wonder we
are mentally
exhausted
by the end
of the day.
Photo: katemangostar via Freepik

16. Humans have finite neural resources
that are depleted each time we switch
between tasks, which can happen
upwards from 400 times a day when
working online according to a UC
Irvine study. (9)
Photo: Dashu83 via Freepik

17. This “mental
exhaustion” is
especially evident in
media multitaskers.
Stanford researchers
have found these
individuals have
difficulty ignoring
distractions,
retaining
information, and
focusing. (7)
Photo: Kues via Freepik

18. With the
healthy growth
of smartphone
usage in
Canada- 47%
owning one up
from 34% in
2012- these
problems are
only getting
worse. (3)
Photo: Jannoon028 via Freepik

19. As a result of this mobile revolution...
the average
human attention
span has fallen
from 12 seconds
in 2000, to a
current average
of 8 seconds. (10)
Photo: Kues1 via Freepik

20. So, in a world so digitally
distracted, how can we rise
above it all?
Photo: skadyfernix via Freepik

21. For starters, we
should block off
“distraction free”
chunks of our
day and set goals
for what to
accomplish to
work more
productively. (4)
Photo: jannoon028 via Freepik

22. We should turn off
most mobile
notifications to focus
on connecting with the
people in front of us. (4)
Photo: jcomp via Freepik

23. We should live healthy, active lifestyles full
of exercise and real life activities to avoid
long periods of down time where we are
more susceptible to wasting time online. (4)
Photo: Freepik

24. References
(1) Anderssen, Erin. "Shibboleth Authentication Request". Search-proquest-com.proxy.queensu.ca. N.p., 2014. Web. 3 June
2017.
(2) Borreli, Lizette. "Human Attention Span Shortens To 8 Seconds Due To Digital Technology: 3 Ways To Stay Focused".
Medical Daily. N.p., 2017. Web. 3 June 2017.
(3) Eichler, Leah. "Shibboleth Authentication Request". Search-proquest-com.proxy.queensu.ca. N.p., 2013. Web. 3 June
2017.
(4) Entis, Laura, and Read more. "3 Ways To Avoid Distractions And Be More Productive". Entrepreneur. N.p., 2014. Web. 4
June 2017.
(5) Hechtel, Ely. "How Smartphones And Mobile Internet Have Changed Our Lives". Sauce Labs. N.p., 2016. Web. 3 June
2017.
(6) Kolsaker, Ailsa. "Mobile Advertising: The Influence Of Emotional Attachment To Mobile Devices On Consumer
Receptiveness". Taylor & Francis. N.p., 2009. Web. 3 June 2017.
(7) Matrix, Sidneyeve. "Digital Literacies". 2017. Presentation.
(8) Rosenwald, Michael. "Shibboleth Authentication Request". Go.galegroup.com.proxy.queensu.ca. N.p., 2014. Web. 3 June
2017.
(9) Von Pfetten, Verena. "Shibboleth Authentication Request". Go.galegroup.com.proxy.queensu.ca. N.p., 2016. Web. 4 June
2017.
(10) Watson, Leon. "Humans Have Shorter Attention Span Than Goldfish, Thanks To Smartphones". The Telegraph. N.p.,
2015. Web. 4 June 2017.